Arrest records can cause problems far down the line--even without a conviction. (Shutterstock)

(Newser)
–
Whether you were charged with a crime or not, an arrest at a young age could haunt you for life. And that's something that should concern quite a few of us: About a third of American adults—some 77.7 million people—have criminal records on the FBI's database, and they can be very difficult to wipe clean, the Wall Street Journal reports. Just half of those records are up to date, meaning they might not include information on charges being dropped or never levied.

"There is a myth that if you are arrested and cleared that it has no impact," says a Georgetown law professor. Not so, as the Journal reveals in several personal stories:

Precious Daniels, 39, of Detroit, was arrested over disorderly conduct in a 2009 protest. The charge was dropped, but when she applied for a Census Bureau job, the Bureau noticed her arrest. She was unable to prove she hadn't been convicted because, she says, the courthouse said it had no record of her case.

One Jose Hernandez was arrested for sexual assault in 2012; thing is, he was the wrong Jose Hernandez. Charges were dropped, but he still had to pay $22,500 in bail and hire a lawyer to have his record expunged. "Needless to say, that hasn't happened yet," he says. His family is still paying off loans related to the case.

Barbara Ann Finn, 74, ran into trouble when she applied for part-time school cafeteria work. The school district in Maryland said her fingerprints matched FBI records. It's unclear why, but she has a theory: In 1963, she was with a friend who was shoplifting. Finn was taken into custody, released, and "never thought any more about it." Documents show she wasn't charged, but she hasn't been able to have the record expunged because—as in Daniels' case—local officials can't seem to find it.

My X once was arrested with her friend for shoplifting. She just happen to be there. She spent the weekend in jail. She did some community service, was enrolled in a program etc. However, it still showed on her record as her been a accessory.

CaptRhan

Aug 20, 2014 10:33 AM CDT

Obviously VIVA you have NO clue u juz dump assssd

true american

Aug 20, 2014 9:17 AM CDT

I never knew this. This is truly something to think about from various viewpoints. So my first thought is we need to truly have done an investigation and have evidence of a crime before an arrest. However my understanding is law enforcement has many rules they have to abide with before an arrest and if mistakes are made this evidence no matter how strong has to be left out of a courtroom. The person charged has to have the charges proven and an assumption of guilt cannot be made before this trial. This article refutes all that and so this is worrisome to me. Next comes a question. If a person is brought in for questioning, do they have to be fingerprinted and have their picture taken? I didn't think so, but now not sure since some seems to have been prematurely arrested and then charges never followed up. Most of what we think goes on is based on TV shows that do not necessarily reflect real life. Also, most poor people don't have the means to expunge something that did not happen, so how about making it law, conviction has to be proven before rights to a job or other problem can be made? I have found most laws are made for the protection nof the ones with money in this country however. First, we have to find a problem. This looks like a problem to me. Second, we solve the problem. The problem has to be defined first.. This requires discussion by adults in a civilized way. True honest discussion of all the issues. What is expected from a young person compared with an older person is relevant. We used to have more compassion for the young, more leniency because they were not experienced, but more expectation that we also have more control over the young for this very same reason. I have not seen this happening. The question is why it is not happening. Yelling, marching, protesting, all these things we see as rights I see as something I would never do to try to change something. I gave up temper tantrums when I was young. That is what investigative reporting used to be about. Today when this is done, we put the reporter in jeopardy. Remember Snowden who only reported what he saw is now an enemy of our government,,,presumed guilty and would be arrested and have to be proved innocent it seems. Instead I would get the evidence.....take it to the proper authorities and if they did not respond, then I would take it to the news media for a story. But today the news media is more interested in sensationalism than investigative facts. Also it is more interested in whether it furthers the cause of the right wing of government or the left wing of government. We need impartial news and there seems to be none of this today. This is a sad day for America. Black and white, old and young, rich and poor, but mostly the poor. The 99% who was denied their own investigation because the 1% control everything.